Pen-type injector having an electronic control unit

Abstract

An injection device of the kind having a main housing ( 4 ) is disclosed and includes a drive mechanism ( 42 ) to expel selectively a dose of medicament from a medicament cartridge ( 40 ) through a needle unit ( 22 ) and an electronic control unit to control the drive mechanism ( 42 ). The injection device further comprises a prime button ( 26 ) which causes a prime signal to be sent to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit actuating the drive mechanism ( 42 ) to expel a predetermined small dose of medicament on receipt of the prime signal. In this way removal of entrapped air from the medicament cartridge ( 40 ) is obtained.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An injection device of the kind having a main housing including:
 a drive mechanism to expel selectively a dose of medicament from a medicament cartridge through a needle unit; 
 an electronic control unit to control the drive mechanism, wherein the injection device further comprises a prime button which causes a prime signal to be sent to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit actuating the drive mechanism to expel a predetermined dose of medicament on receipt of the prime signal; and 
 a cover adapted to cover the needle unit and a part of the main housing, wherein the prime button is located within the part of the main housing adapted to be covered by the cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device further comprises a priming detection means to sense the orientation of the injection device, and the electronic control unit will only cause the drive mechanism to operate in response to a priming signal when the injection device is in predetermined orientation. 
     
     
       3. The injection device according to  claim 2 , wherein the injection device further comprises additional buttons which in use generate further signals to which the electronic control unit optionally responds, the electronic control unit not responding to the further signals when the injection device is in the predetermined orientation.